이 논문은 관음종을 개창한 태허의 법통에 대한 인식이 무엇인가를 살펴보려는 작업이다. 그런 점에 대한 태허의 내면을 고찰할 수 있는 자료는 그의 육필원고인 『해동천태법화종법맥소고』가 있다. 이 원고에 의하면 태허는 영산정토에서 발원한 법화사상을 기반으로 전개되는 중국천태종의 전통을 인정하고, 그 사상적 테두리 안에서 발아하여 꽃피운 해동 출신의 천태법화사상가들의 정신을 계승한다고 선언한다. 중국 천태종의 정신을 계승하면서도 해동 천태종의 독자적 자긍심과 창의성을 십분 인정하고 존중하고자 하는 의지를 분명하게 밝히고 있다. 따라서 대각국사를 해동천태종의 종조로 추존하고, 그 이래의 법통을 설정한다.
해동천태종의 전통을 고찰하고 그 사자상승의 관계를 존중하는 것은 단순한 답습에 있었던 것은 아니었다. 민족적 자존과 창의성을 존중하고 계승하되, 시대에 맞는 재해석과 실천의 방법이 제시되어야 한다고 보았던 점이다. 『불종대의』나 『해동천태법화종법맥소고』, 기타 유관 서책을 통해 알 수 있듯이 태허의 의식 속에는 민족과 평화, 시대적 변화의 수용과 중생구제라는 관념이 팽배되어 있다.
태허와 같이 지적 탐구심과 철저한 사회의식을 소유한 사람에겐 새로운 방법론의 개발이나 구원론을 제시하기 위한 것이라면, 그래서 장점이 있거나 필요하다면 민족이나 지역을 초월하여 다양한 사상을 스펀지처럼 흡수할 수 있다고 본다. 다만 흡수를 하되 완전하게 소화하여 자기만의 스타일로 재창출하여 보여준다는 점이다. 태허의 법화천태사상이 일본불교의 영향을 받은 것 같으면서도 독창성을 보여주고 있는 점이 바로 그렇다. 온고이지신은 했으되 독창적이고 대승적이란 점은 부인할 수 없다.
또한 그의 법통 의식 속에는 출가자 중심이 아닌 사부대중이 함께 하는 종단을 지향해야만 한다는 의식이 함유되어 있다. 사부대중이 각자의 역할을 충실히 완수할 때, 개인과 국가 내지 불교의 발전을 도모할 수 있다는 확고한 신념이 있었던 것이다. 그런 점에서 태허의 접근방법은 매우 합리적이고 이성적이란 점을 발견할 수 있다. 또한 태허는 종파를 초월하여 정근하고 수행하여 겨레의 눈과 등불과 그리고 길잡이가 되어야 한다고 권유한다. 자리이타의 대승불교이념을 완성하는 것은 수행의 완성과 자비의 실현이라는 점이다. 이것은 개인과 사회의 구원을 동시에 완성하는 것이다.
This dissertation is the work to look over what the recognition on buddhist doctrine of Taeheo who established Gwaneumjong was. There is ‘Haedong Cheontae Beophwajong Beopmaek Sogo’, his handwritten manuscript, when it comes to the source which I could have a consideration into Taeheo’s inner side from that point of view.
Based on his manuscript, he declared that he conceded the tradition of Chinese Cheontai Order that was developed based on Beophwa thought which wished to be born into Yeongsan Jeongto, and succeeded the spirit of Cheontai Beophwa thought which was from Haedong germinating and blooming in its ideological boundary.
Succeeding its spirit of the Cheontai Order in China, it obviously revealed the will to completely acknowledge and respect the independent pride and creativity of Haedong Cheontaejong. So, it honored the national preceptor, Daegak, as the founder of Haedong Cheontaejong, and set up its buddhist doctrine from him.
To have a consideration into the tradition of Haedong Cheontaejong, and respect the relationship handing down buddhist dharma from a teacher to a student, there was not on the simple old tradition. He saw that a reinterpretation and a practical way for the time should be suggested, respecting and succeeding our ethnic pride and creativity, As it is like we know through ‘Buljongdaeui’ or ‘Haedong Cheontae Beophwajong Beopmaek Sogo’, and other related books, in Taeheo’s consciousness, the conception on accepting chronological change and saving sentient beings was overflowed.
To suggest a development of new methodology or soteriology for the persons who have intellectual inquiring minds and thorough social consciousness like Taeheo, if there is or needs a positive point, it may absorb various ideas like a sponge transcending people or regions. But, it should show a recreation in its own style absorbing and completely digesting them.
It is right that Taeheo’s Beophwa Cheontae thought showed its creativity having an influence of Japanese Buddhism. Although it kept its old tradition and developed new way, it is hard to deny when it comes to the creative and Mahayana points,.
And also, in Taeheo’s buddhist doctrinal consciousness, the national independence was embedded. However, such a consciousness can be considered as the establishment of identity, not the consciousness of division, from the influence of Gyeong’un Wongi.
Gyeong’un Wongi was the representative of Imjejong which was established opposing to Wonjong in 1911. Wonjong(圓宗) was born because there needed the organization which could cope actively with a chronological change in the course of modernization. Wonjong’s spasmodic movement had a chance of an ethnically strong sect’s appearance in the world of Korean Buddhism.
As Taeheo became a monk under Gyeong’un Wongi, the supreme master of Imjejong, as his teacher, it may be seen that the influence of independent ethnical consciousness by Gyeong'un Wongi was embedded to him naturally.
And also, in his buddhist doctrinal consciousness, the thought that it’s not only focusing on monks, but also all the people in Buddhism should be participated in Buddhist sect was contained. He had the firm belief that it might be possible for the development of person, nation, and Buddhism, when the buddhist believers in all the 4 parts were playing their roles faithfully. From this point, I could find out that Taeheo Sunim’s approaching method was very reasonable and rational.
Moreover, he recommended that it should be an eye, a lamp, and a guide of people by transcending religious sects, reciting a name of bodhisattvas, and practicing. To complete the Mahayana buddhist ideology of Jaririta(自利利他, Good for me and you) is the completion of practice and realization of love. It is to achieve the salvation of person and society simultaneously. The challenges to harm an intrinsic value of life are in various aspects. As much as they are, it's hard to deny the reality which selfish ideas run into an extreme.
But from Taeheo’s point of view, I cannot say that the urgent time when wants the teaching of Bulipjong doesn’t come to. The consciousness to return a personal completion into a social completion is embedded.